The Representation Of Racism And Discrimination In Film

Discrimination is not an unknown factor in the film industry. Racism and discrimination is one of the founding factors in the development of film. Cinema has been an incredibly ‘white’ source of communication since the beginning. From Native Americans to Indigenous Australians, each have been portrayed in the same way. Early cinema showed a lot of discrimination among dark skinned people with Australian cinema representing the minorities in films like Jedda, uncivilised and bitter springs as well as African Americans and native Americans represented in Hollywood films like the birth of a nation which was heavily based on the KKK. These communities were all represented in the same way in early cinema, seeming savage and ruthless. Unlike the

The story follows an older indigenous community member by the name of Charlie played by David Gulpilil. The story is extremely strong and real, presenting the living conditions of the indigenous communities in the Northern Territory of Australia. The films plot is quite simple but has a lot of strong themes that can be related among many minority groups. Charlie doesn’t like his living conditions in his local town and believes it is unfair. He lacks food, his shelter is small and can only really house one, and his restricted from hunting and living the way of his culture. The government has strict laws and legislations about the living conditions among the indigenous community that ends with these groups living in poverty. Charlie chooses to escape from his community and go live in his land. But at his age and with the health issues he has, he is forced to return to the community sending him into a downward spiral of events. He doesn’t believe the government’s health system is fair, he violates the Northern Territory drinking laws and is incarcerated. Poverty, discrimination, racism, exclusion and resentment are all strong themes that modern day indigenous communities face. The themes alone are the building blocks of the progression of the

In some states, minorities live under strict laws which demolish their right to live in their community the way their ancestors lived. Rolf de Heer drives the film by acknowledging these cultural differences, with Charlie having a strong link to his culture. From losing his gun and spear, to the violation of drinking laws in Darwin, you can really see the injustice in these communities. The amount of impactful themes that Rolf in twines in this rich story, really gives the viewer a sense of disbelief. The collaboration with David Gulpilil, really made this story real. It opens the viewer’s eyes of the strict laws these communities live in. They live in poverty, they are one of the highest incarcerated communities in the country, and were promised a change but are still treated like invaders. For a small glimpse of the film, Charlie escaped the poverty and lived in thick bushlands. The scene captures how Charlies ancestors would’ve lived, presenting cultural elements linked with the rich ambient noise. The land felt so calming and peaceful, but then would change in a matter of seconds when the storm hit. But this was one of the only parts, Charlie felt he